‘Pictionary’ switches N.Y. station, timeslot

Good news Friday for Worldvision Enterprises’ new syndie gameshow “Pictionary”: The half-hour strip won’t be handicapped by a post-2 a.m. timeslot in New York, the nation’s largest TV market.

“Pictionary” had been cleared for a Sept. 22 premiere by WCBS New York, but distributor Worldvision has since secured a midday timeslot for the show on WB Network affil WPIX. Sources say WCBS’ decision to clear “Pictionary” was driven by the station’s interest in picking up the second year of “Judge Judy,” Worldvision’s court strip that had a promising first season on WWOR New York.

Once “Judge Judy” was in the bag, WCBS had no problem with Worldvision shopping around for a better timeslot for “Pictionary,” a celebrity-oriented gameshow hosted by Alan Thicke. If the deal with WPIX or another Gotham outlet had not come through, the early ayem timeslot in New York would’ve significantly hampered “Pictionary’s” chances of generating strong national ratings.

More importantly, the lack of visibility in the world’s advertising mecca would have made “Pictionary” a low priority for syndie media buyers.

In other firstrun syndication news, former KCAL anchor David Jackson and local news veteran Suzanne T. Rico have been tapped as correspondents for Warner Bros.’ “Extra.” Jackson left KCAL after an eight-year run earlier this year.

The new faces on “Extra” come on the heels of the departure of co-anchor Brad Goode, whose contract was not renewed. A Warner Bros. spokesman says the show will try a solo anchor format with Maureen O’Boyle for a time before making a decision on a new co-anchor.